Ordinary Moments
What does the “empty park” in Gray’s poems often symbolise?
loneliness or stillness
What kind of place is described in “Flames and Dangling Wire”?
A dystopian wasteland.
OR
a world of spiritual neglect.
“She will vanish in that light” – what does the light symbolise in this quote?
death or the end of life
“Everything done, press down the latches into the case.”
Journey: The North Coast
What does Gray say we often ignore or take for granted?
Nature
In “24 Poems,” what does Gray say his mother will vanish into?
the light
What feeling does Gray create about city life by using words like “screaming” and “metal roofs”?
It feels stressful, unpleasant, disorderly or chaotic.
“The country bursts open on the sea” – what technique is used and what feeling does it create?
metaphor and freedom
“We laid our hands on the stone parapet’s fading life.”
Harbour Dusk
What does Gray show about love and connection in “Harbour Dusk”?
It can fade or feel distant.
OR
Nature can help us to understand our human connections.
Which poem most effectively explores the transformative power of being immersed in nature, and the power of solitutde?
Descriptions of a Walk
What is the MAIN problem that Gray reveals with urban life/modern ways of living?
Environmental destruction
OF
Disconnection from nature
“Forest was cumulus on stilts” – what is this unusual image an example of and what idea does it reflect?
metaphor or surreal imagery, reflecting awe or disorientation
“The city reveals itself as a landscape of tin cans.”
Flames and Dangling Wire
Why does Gray focus on quiet, simple moments in his poetry?
To help us reflect or appreciate life more
What is quote that depicts an ordinary moment in 'Journey, the North Coast' which conveys a change or spiritual shift in the persona?
"I'll leave my hair ruffled"
OR
"Everything done, press down the latches into the case"
Why does Gray contrast city life with nature?
To show how nature brings peace and healing to a world of chaos and hopelessness.
“Rubbish dump, all the air wobbling” – What technique is this and what does it create?
Sensory/visual imagery or hyperbole, showing pollution, and decay
Byron Bay: Winter
Why does Gray allude to paintings and artists so often?
His language often paints scenes in vivid detail, similar to how a painter captures a landscape or emotion.
What does Gray want us to realise about ordinary moments in life?
that they can be powerful or meaningful
"Angry as a burned insect, a distant car"
1) What technique is used?
2) What is the effect/impact of the technique?
1) Simile or zoomorphism
2) To emphasise the unwanted intrusion of urbanisation/human consumerism.
“As in hell the devils might poke about through our souls” – Name the device and the idea it supports.
Allusion or metaphor linking human waste to spiritual damage
"or nuns, going to an evening confessional"
Harbour Dusk
How does Gray explore the signficance of Buddhist thought?
Everything is transient—all things change and pass.
OR
The Buddhist principle of mindfulness—being fully present and aware without judgment.
OR
Nature often becomes a space for spiritual renewal and self-understanding.